Pre 9/11 the playbook for passengers was to comply and not escalate the hijacking.
Post 9/11...rather... DURING 9/11 the Pennsylvania flight fought back.
Terrorist slowed down on their hijacking in large part due to victims fighting back.

The motorist adapted first by not agreeing before hand to be a victim.
The protester thought a bully tactic was sufficient. He made the fundamental mistakes of fighting the last war and not giving his opponent a say in the battle.

The short answer is that you cannot assume that your opponent will accept the rules of war and abide by them.


For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

2 Thessalonians 3:10